| Irritable bowel syndrome | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Spastic colon, nervous colon, mucous colitis, spastic bowel |
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| 3D depiction of the pain of IBS | |
| Medical specialty | Gastroenterology |
| Symptoms | Diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain |
| Usual onset | Before 45 years old |
| Duration | Long term |
| Causes | Unknown |
| Risk factors | Genetic predisposition, psychological stress, childhood abuse, food poisoning, psychiatric illness |
| Diagnostic method | Based on symptoms, exclusion of other diseases |
| Differential diagnosis | Celiac disease, giardiasis, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, microscopic colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, small intestine bacterial overgrowth, bile acid malabsorption, colon cancer |
| Treatment | Symptomatic (dietary changes, medication, human milk oligosaccharides, probiotics, counseling) |
| Prognosis | Normal life expectancy |
| Frequency | 10–15% (developed world) and 15–45% (globally) |
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder by a group of symptoms that usually include abdominal pain, abdominal bloating and changes in bowel movements. These symptoms may happen over a long time, sometimes for years. IBS can affect quality of life and may impact daily life activities. Disorders such as anxiety, major depression, and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) are common among people with IBS.
The cause of IBS is not known, but it can be triggered by stress, or an intestinal infection.
